Charlie Rose Science Series
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09/21/2007
Sean Penn, Eddie Vedder
A discussion about the film "Into The Wild"
Keywords:
A discussion about the film "Into The Wild" with director Sean Penn and musician Eddie Vedder, who composed the soundtrack to the film. The film tells the story of Christopher McCandless as he traveled through the US.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
I know this is way off the subject but besides this wonderful interview I wish some celebrity with a soul like Sean Penn or whoever would make a stink about more US bases being built in foreign countries. There is a city in Italy that already has a base, military housing and even US WMDs in case of an attack and now there is a second US base being built in the same city...what for? Many Italians have been protesting this base for years now on a daily bases but as always they are ignored and there is very little media on this subject...this is not good. Sorry, to take away attention from these wonderfully talented people but just wanted to put this out their since media came up in the interview. Thanks.
in response to emma rose: eddie wasn't homecoming king, he was voted most talented in high school, which doesn't reflect insincerity, but actual talent. i was more than thrilled to see him join friend sean penn on charlie rose, discussing a great movie and book. i have sent this link to just about everyone, as well as burned vedder's soundtrack for all on my holiday list. it's simply beautiful.
Look up the Johnny Depp interview, he's smoking throughout the whole thing as well.
What an incredible film. I am one of the people who the book and the film have deeply affected. Back at the beginning of summer I was in the bookstore just browsing and the book caught my eye much like it did Sean Penn. I see in Chris a kindred spirit. That could have been a story about me. My thanks for Chris' family, Jon K., Sean, Eddie, and Emile and all the cast for an amazing and moving film. I've seen it 3 times already. This is the kind of film I want to see. Hollywood is not dead. I hope this film and the actors get showered with awards but if not, what you all did with this film and how you had a personal connection with it, has made it remarkable. Thank you Charlie for doing interviews like this where people can be themselves.
Charlie, either you yourself are a smoker or I don't understand why you would agree to interview someone who is so ill-mannered as having to smoke during your interview! Wouldn't Sean Penn resist his desire to smoke for one single hour in his life? And how about Letterman?? I couldn't believe my eyes when you interviewed him some time ago, and he had the audacity of coming in smoking a cigar and, worse yet, blowing smoke in your direction. He is mean enough to have done it to humiliate you and act as if he were above you because he makes more money, it appeared. I was furious at his lack of good manners and disrepect for you and your show. I don't care how much of celebrities these guys are, they should act with more respect. I hereby submit my COMPLAIN at Sean Penn and at David Letterman. What creeps!
Speaking to those who were so distracted by Sean Penn that they couldn't enjoy the point of the discussion, my guess is if Charlie Rose really wanted to get the interview, it would have had to be on Sean Penn's terms, smoking and all. As far as I know, second-hand smoke doesn't penetrate through cyberspace. Bottom line, the risk to their health was their option in order to bring the show to us. Speaking as a 3-pack-a-day ex-smoker myself, our criticism of others can be just as obnoxious as the smoke. So, please. Chill, people. Let's just be grateful.
Mr.Penn and Mr. Vedder, All I can say is Thank you. You will never know how this movie has made my life better. Thank you for taking Alex's story to such a height he would be proud of! The music just moved me. Thanks, W Spence
Great interview...Here you have three men who obviously care about the world we live in, and spend their time trying to make a difference, and people have the b__ls to sit at home and criticise . What have you done lately????
enough with the smoke comments - it was boring the first time. I do wish Charlie wold stop with the "best actor of his generation" hype - he does it everytime one of the great ones on. How can you compare Daniel Day-Lewis, Depp and Penn and say one is better than the other? They are all so different and yet so wonderful. My vote is for DDL, always has been, but I appreciate the other two, too. So do a Brando, send up a young woman to refuse the Oscar, and let's get on with enjoying them individually. By the way, this movie topic reminds me of the harrowing "Grizzley Man",
KAT, I disagree with you. I would like to see "In the Wild,' but it is not in my area. When and if it does I will go to the theater. I hate smoke, I was in the work world a long time and our office would be blue with all the smoking that was allowed. From friends and relatives I know that it does affect people who have a heart problem. Ask any one you know and they will tell you.
I have not seen nor read the book 'Into the Wild'. But I have seen an interview with Sean Penn on Oprah. I think for those who focus on Sean Penn's smoking or are quick to judge saying that Chris McCandless 'wasted' his life. These people are missing the point. I don't think Chris McCandless did his journey out of selfishness..obv. there was some family issues there. But the real point is Chris McCandless wanted to challenge himself. It was his personal choice and setting his own limits and parameters. While I have had different thoughts on this subject and have read background on Chris McCandless. Overall what I think he did was very brave and obv. something he felt he needed to do. But for the fact he ate something that was not good for him (something he thought was a potato root) I believe which it wasn't. What he ate did not break down into glucose for energy for his body and instead caused him to lose energy and to starve to death. But for that I believe eventually as he was planning to make it out alive he would be telling the story for himself.
To the previous commenter - if you notice, Charlie Rose says during the interview that people will either like the movie and associate with the main character, or it is not going to affect them. Obviously, Charlie Rose (such as I and others) identified and was affected by the movie - so he did not spend one hour glorifying a random movie. He did it because it was his choice and desire to do so. Cheers
I have read 'Into the Wild' twice as I thought I missed something the first time but as it turns out there really was not anything there. My prevailing thought is sympathy for the obviously disturbed young man and for the pain his family has experienced. Regret for the waste of a life. I was also disappointed with Charlie Rose in that an hour was spent on glorification of a movie, the basis of which offers little to no intellectual value.
This is for: GET A LIFE PEOPLE. Have you seen this week's programs guests from the middle east and Brazil. I won't be able to see Friday's show until Monday. Hope you enjoy them.
OF ALL THE THINGS MANY COMMENT POSTERS HERE CAN TALK ABOUT, OR HARP ON, IS SEAN PENN'S SMOKING!? I'm sure Sean knows it's bad for him and all that. But if all 3 people at the table were as creative, moral and heroic as Sean Penn -- puffing away -- I'd gratefully take that over all the intellectually lazy comment posters here who can find nothing to talk about, about the interview, other than Sean Penn's smoking.
We should all keep reminding Charlie and his audience, that Sean Penn was very rude and thoughtless in smoking just a foot or two away from Charlie. Yes, Charlie did not cough, but it was up to him to tell his BEST FRIEND that his heart could not take the smoke. I hope Charlie also remembers that he probably smelled like a chimmey in bad need of a good cleaning, when the interview was over. Don't be stupid again Charlie or you will be going to that place where little old gray haired ladies go, and where Jeremy Paxman said you and he will be going some day. Probably sooner than you want to.
Please !!! Stop making excuses for both Sean Penn's and Charlie Rose's behavior. Penn is a great advocate of national health care. I agree with him but Sean Penn looks like a total hypocrite smoking away to such a degree that his face was obliterated by cigarette smoke. Charlie Rose should know as well as Penn that non verbal communications are stronger communicators than words can ever be. Remember,George Herber Walker Bush looking at his watch during one of his debates. Many think that precipitated his loss. Charlie Rose needs to apologize to his audience. NOW !
concern is great, but the comments about the smoking seem to point to a kind of knee-jerk reaction as opposed to genuine thought about Something We All Already Know (smoking kills). yes, the guy smoked on his friend's show. the host didn't cough from the smoke. the studio looked well ventilated. surely Vedder and Rose would have made a request of their friend to cease smoking if they were bothered. they all appeared to be having one of the most engaged conversations i've ever heard. is being righteous that much more seductive than realizing we all have flaws and smoking happens to be a visible one ? i really don't feel Sean Penn shoved a cigarette down anybody's throat except his own. what is making viewers go off about a universally agreed upon bad habit? it's not as though he undid the non-smoking laws. this is not enlightening opinion...it sounds like brain-washed emotional venting. (btw: i loathe smoke, was unhappy to see another human being lighting up) so C'mon, get the reality: we got to hear an artist -imperfect like anyone of us - talk about making an exceptional piece of art.
I, too, love Charlie Rose and was shocked to see Sean Penn smoking all over this man who has had his share of health problems. How rude.
Oh, this is Charlie Rose at some of his best. I love this show. Thanks.
Smoking is rad. Accept it.
Dear Charlie and company, I am a pioneer female broadcaster with three decades in radio and TV, beginning in 1957. I worked for WTVJ, Miami, as a children's show co-host. Then, I produced for for WMCA's Barry Gray, NBC's "Tonight" show, working for Dick Carson, Johnny's brother, and finally for the promotion department of WPIX in NY. Then, I was chosen to launch a radio show in Boston as a first and only female with daily show six -- then five -- days a week, four hours a day in the 1970s and early 1980s. I was just appalled to see Sean Penn smoking on your show! I can't remember anyone doing it except Mike Wallace years ago. I don't remember if David Susskind smoked! We have to accept it in old movies, but not in 2007. Please insist that your guests refrain from exhibiting this lethal habit for the time they are with you. This is particularly poignant because my ex-husband, a promising young producer with ABC News and Sports, eventually died because of that terrible weed. We saw "Into The Wild" at a press preview last night and I will review it on October 5 on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Just a hint -- it was absolutely breathtaking and I gave it an "A" on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card. Magnificent photography, music to set the scene, gorgeous wildlife photos, and poignant and ultimately tragic story -- with more than enough to discuss afterwards. Sean Penn (writing & directing) and Eddie Vedder (music) have captured the searing conflict in the McCandless story. Emile Hirsch is unbelievable -- amazing -- on screen virtually every minute! Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, and Hal Holbrook and other actors play their roles to the hilt. This is truly a heart-wrenching story, but who can convince a young person that life is worth living, despite the conflicts of everyday life? That it's never too late to carve your dreams in this brief existence we call life? Off topic: I'm sure you won't remember me, but I was your guest in 1981 on the topic of Mothers Without Custody. You were charming and courteous -- I like to think that's the reason you didn't order Penn to snuff it out. So sad to think that Christopher was addicted to freedom, not security -- and Sean is addicted to nicotine. Perhaps someone who loves him will convince him that habit is as deadly as the bear featured briefly in the movie -- maybe even deadlier. Making peace a priority, Ellen Kimball, Oregon Public Broadcasting Portland, Oregon
My aplogy to "Ann" the offending and anti-Jewish posting was written by "Jim" not by "Ann." Sorry, for the error.
While I was very upset to see Sean Penn smoke during the interview I was more upset to read "Ann's" posting below. As a practicing Roman Catholic I was offended and very angry to read her obvious anti-Jewish allusion in discussing Mr. Bloomberg's studio which she characterized as owning " lock, stock and BAGEL." Please take your anti-semetic, anti-Jewish remarks with you as you board a plane to Iran. I am sure they would welcome you with open arms ... as long as your arms, face and legs were covered in black robes. Then again, they may be doing the world an immeasurable favor. ;)
I read the book "Into the wild" some years ago. Great book. Great author. I hope Sean Penn captures the essence of the book in his movie, because failure to do so would make this movie a flop.
Bravo charlie rose for a great interview.Even though I am a non smoker you can light up the room with as many smokes as you like when you have guests like these on your show. Sean Penn is always a pleasure to listen to, he is engaging, intelligent and always illuminates the room with his heartfelt observations...
Sean Penn, I don't often use this word with public figures, but you are a morally beautiful human being. You think for yourself with your fine developed mind and your heart, and you don't let the mainstream corporate media or the Bush administration's scare button think for you. I could immediately relate to how you said that you discovered from a young age as a celebrity that the mainstream media constantly lies, because you saw how they regularly lied about you and other celebrities you knew. I discovered from a young age as a little Black kid that the mainstream media constantly lies because I saw how it constantly lies about and stereotypes the Black community, and otherwise perpetuates white-American double standards and stereotypes about the Black community. You are even the first person on the show that Charlie didn't constantly try to impose his 'patriotic agenda', as Charlie defines it, as well and his constant "U.S. 'noble intentions'" apologism, frame of thought onto someone else's independent political views and interpretation that doesn't match Charlie's own implicit constant flagwaving. With progressive political guests, or guests who are progressive political activists, I think that Charlie should just write and do his own commentaries that night, because one can see that he spends the entire interview time just trying to impose his own constantly flag-waving personal view upon such guests. You are also the first person I've seen on the program that has such an independent, and especially progressive political view, that Charlie didn't constantly interrupt, (Constantly interrupt, as Charlie did even with the late great Palestinian scholar and Columbia University Professor Edward Said, whom Charlie had on twice for only about 12 minutes and once for almost 30 minutes, but Charlie will have someone like Tom Arnold --absolutely no offense to Tom-- on a couple of times for the entire hour! Even Tom Arnold would admit that there is something unfair about that.) Probably that's because of your extremely high celebrity status --certainly a lot higher than Charlie's-- and thus he wouldn't try to treat you like that or let your many international fans see him treat you like that. Finally, I want to say that EVERY PATRIOTIC AMERICAN should go see Sean Penn's heroism --because he was one person who sure didn't have to be there risking his life rescuing others (and mostly people who's skin color didn't look like his)-- in Spike Lee's documentary "When the Levies Broke" (in video stores on DVD: listen to the director's, Spike's, commentary track too for more great information). And EVERY PATRIOTIC AMERICAN should *DEMAND* that Bush (and whomever is elected president next) and the Congress NOT spend one more penny, of the SEVERAL *BILLION* DOLLARS SPENT EVERY *WEEK* THAT THE U.S. SPENDS IN IRAQ, against a country who's dictator the U.S. once heartily supported, and against al-Qaeda that the U.S. once heartily supported, on a WASTEFUL, DISASTEROUS, WAR, that has killed well over a MILLION Iraqis (way more Iraqis than *Saddam* killed!), seriously wounded & maimed for life MILLIONS more Iraqis, displaced several MILLIONS more Iraqis from their destroyed homes, and instead REBUILD NEW ORLEANS --at least get all the utilities back up again, still not working-- so that the tax-paying American citizens who lived there can come back home as they wish. If all those still suffering New Orleans people were mostly white, instead of mostly Black, those people's homes and neighborhoods would have been restored by now.
regarding all the comments about a smoker on tv: it is strange to me that people would chose to write on about the actor smoking. i think we all- including Sean Penn- know that smoking is dangerous.frankly, seeing someone in the public eye Not camoflauging who they are or what they do is a relief. haven't we all had enough of glossy images shoved in our faces? clearly, no one is Inspired to smoke these days because a Hollywood star has nicotine addiction.
I always have lunch with Charlie Rose, as am not a night owl. It was so disappointing to see today's guest, particularly after the brilliant interview with Alan Greenspan on the previous program. Sean Penn is an excellent actor, period. He obviously aspires to be a philosopher too, which he is not. How completely arrogant to smoke in such a venue. If he cannot stop smoking for an hour's interview, I assume he won't be with us that much longer. I feel very sorry for the parents of the young man about whom his movie was made I know nothing about them, other than what I have heard about the movie, but I wonder what right Penn has to judge them so harshly. I believe this movie will be one I can miss.
Adding to this great piece Two octogenarians review Into the Wild and give a different perspective and insight that makes you think...check it out http://youtube.com/watch?v=AkIuIPQObWQ
to Ross: yes, i too had a comment get blipped out of the que a while back...one minute it was there , the next it wasn't . i don't think it was deliberate .
Real annoying to see that Charlie Rose of PBS Fame gave in to Sean Penn and allowed him to smoke like the proverbial chimney during his Friday show. You could hardly see Penn's face behind the pall of cigarette smoke coming from Penn's hand or the ashes he kept dumping in a plastic looking cup...guess PBS doesn't have ashtrays anymore. For someone who nearly died a year or so ago and had to have open heart surgery one wonders why Charlie Rose would allow anyone to smoke in his studio. I am sure both Charlie Rose and Shawn Penn broke every no smoking rule that PBS ever put out. Makes Charlie Rose and PBS look like hypocrites.
Did anyone else have their comments deleted like what happened to me? I posted the night before his appearance, which was just a question for Mr. Penn. I really didn't expect he would have answered it, but I didn't expect that he would have been insulated from it. Way to go Charlie. You and Penn aren't so tough after all. And for the rest of you, the question was 'During your heroic, and armed, efforts in New Orleans to help Katrina victims, what went through your mind when you launched your boat with the plug out?
Nice job Charlie. It appears by the comments that you succeeded in impressing the hysterical female portion of your audience, with these two pseudo intellectuals. To finish the job interview Britney Spears next. She's just about as brilliant as these two, and I hear that she smokes!
eddie vedder i can stand. although his "intense emotional rage within" smacks of insincerity since he was i believe homecoming king. like frank mccourt says, "these american kids are poseurs since they've never experienced war, famine, poverty and they're ashamed so they make up despair when they've never felt it". these two are perfect examples of that. they've only known privilege. nonetheless, penn is as clueless and egomaniacal as usual. what is the deal with always smoking? he has to still bunk authority? it's so childish and pretentious of him. but he possibly doesn't even have a high school degree so there you go. vedder is more reasonable, but penn cracks me up with his rubbish. he's such a fool and doesn't even know it. hysterical.
Sean...Charlie...give us a break! The smoke was just too much. So unpleasant, I finally just had to change the channel.
Psuedo intellectuals. The intellect of these two guests wouldn't be enough to fill a thimble. Charlie, I generally respect your program, but after a half an hour of searching for active ingredient I had to turn your show off. Hollywood produces few people worth listening to. Penn is no exception. Nothing that he said was of any real substance (additionally his adolecent mentality is reflected in his need to smoke on the air.) At least Vetter makes no pretense of superior reasoning. Penn buys his own B.S., and apparently Charlie, you do to. Stick with Buffet, Kissinger and Greenspam. They have insightful reasoning.
yawn where's vedder
Interesting program. Choppy, probably edited down from a much longer interview. Would have been great to hear a bit of Mr. Vedders' work on the film. Mr. Penn (one of our very best actors) is always interesting. His film reminds me of that great 'bear eats man' documentary, a few years back. Have to see the film. Thank you.
Finally you had Eddie Vedder on your show! He has a great heart and soul and a voice that heals the wounded. The next time you have him on, you might ask him about his own initiation experiences and his relationship to nature. Sean Penn's genius is in admiring him and encouraging his work. "Guaranteed" on the soundtrack is what deserves attention (along with "The Wolf") but neither will be played on mainstream radio because of length. You have interviewed one of the greats of his generation, which I recognize, even though I'm older than you!
This movie is an analogy of modernity and the ecology crisis. Will Humankind suddenly find itself in the same spot and have to face its last few years, months, days, hours, and minutes dying? How will it be explained? This movie is in the process of happening to the world.
Where is the rest of the show? Only 27 minutes?
while watching the charlie rose show i was overcome with emotion for the young man Mmcandless and just how much Mr. Penn and Mr. Vedder understood exactly what the young man was trying to achieve. and in fact did achieve! anyone who hasnt heard the soundtrack written by Vedder is missing out. peaceLOVEcompassion
Penn's praise of Hugo Chavez's ability to "inspire" the electorate of Venezuela" reminds me of the leftist "intellectuals" who were so adamant in their support of Stalin. When Chavez declares himself President for Life, it will be interesting to see how Penn will characterize the pro-democracy protesters.. 'reactionaries' perhaps? Ill educated and uninformed fools posing as artists and thinkers do poor justice to the contemporary state of a real and suffering humanity.
You can question what passes for quality and intelligence in the media these days but when you see and hear the real thing, it's almost startling. You could see real honesty in Penn and Vedder, and it grabs you. They will be around as great artists for a long time. Charlie Rose forever !
I remember reading the book, and how it impacted me. The debate about a "death wish" is often posed by those who are afraid to live fully. Risk- taking on a physical, ethical, political, spiritual level is an individual choice, and most who do it are well aware of the price they may have to pay for that choice. What makes live worth living? Again a personal decision. The interview was truly engaging. Penn is evolving in a way I would not have imagined years ago. Hopefully he will be around a long time despite the habit.
I receive (sporadically) daily emails announcing the show's guests. The email regarding last night's show did not arrive until 2:44 a.m. Saturday. I caught about half of the interview, but would have liked notice so that I would not have to miss such an insightful interview. LOVED the film.
I adored your interview because I adore Sean Penn. I place Penn in the category of a James Dean. This film Into the Wild he directed captivated me through his comments and I will most definitely see it. Whether he is talking about film actors, directors or politics I stop to listen. I am ALWAYS captivated by his point of view. Certainly he was prescient about Iraq. Sean Penn is one of the greats of American film. He is genius.
What a great show tonight Charlie, insightful about the making of the inspired true story "Into the Wild"...Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder came across very honest and deep. A thought provoking interview and it definateley pulled you in, tugged at the heart strings a bit and made me very anxious to see the film...No trailer of the film could've stirred up my curiosity or interest quite the same after watching the show tonight. The way you and Penn described the Americana landscapes,the skills of the young lead actor and all the details about the letters...It was just a GREAT INTERVIEW!!
Great show tonight..Penn and Vedder..BRAVO !!! Have listened to the soundtrack ,by Vedder...love it...look forward to the film and the book...much food for thought.....Great show as usual ,Charlie...in response to Penn smoking, so gracious to make a guest feel at home. Again ..BRAVO
Thank you for having such insightful and honest guests. I have been following both these artists(Eddie Vedder/Sean Penn) work for quite some time. I am glad there is still a venue to air guests which have courage and steadfastness in their beliefs and actions. Thank you.
Great show tonight. I haven't seen Vedder in years, and he was very articulate and interesting. And Penn was...well, Penn. He smokes in a lot of interviews, but if it's an issue, he won't (witness Oprah, Letterman, etc.,). I imagine if it was an matter of great importance to Mr. Rose, Penn would respect it. But I've never seen Charlie balk at this with ANYBODY, so...his show, his rules.
Vedder, rather. Bloody typos and no way to edit a comment :)
Smoking during an interview? I like Penn, and I like Veder, but C'mon. Talk about a complete lack of respect for anyone within 500 feet of that space. It smacked of total arrogance to see him smoking during an interview.
just Watching high grade Listening on the tv tonight is something i can't recall seeing in ages... not even in "real" life. when an artist has something real to say and gets the space and spotlight to say it...it is powerful, humbling, moving, and inspiring this show also reminds me that the word "celebrity" didnot start out as a dubious distinction. the honor it takes to be an artist- to hold that light-is what was celebrated tonight. thank you to Penn, Vedder and a rose named Charlie for showing up 100%.
So great to finally see Vedder on the show..
Looking forward to the show tonight. I was speaking with Eddie at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sean was kind enough to give my friend a cigarette. Great guys! Great body of work! Two of my favourite contemporary artists...
the film is good
some food for thought before the big dish arrives: The late Leo Penn, who was blacklisted during the Red scare of the 1950 his director credits include "77 Sunset Strip," "Bonanza," "Dr. Kildare," "Ben Casey," "Alfred Hitchcock," "The Fugitive," "Lost in Space," "Ironside," "Marcus Welby," "Columbo," "Hart to Hart," "Matlock" and "Magnum, P.I."